Toys and trucks go hand-in-hand: Kids get to tour fire engines in Dover and help make others' Christmas merry

Saturday

Nov 24, 2012 at 3:15 AMNov 24, 2012 at 10:46 AM

By Michelle Kingstonmkingston@fosters.com

DOVER — There were fire trucks in the parking lot and toys under a tree outside of Uno Chicago Grill on Friday, with Rochester, Somersworth and Dover firefighters hoping for donations for their toy banks from people traveling home after a long day of Black Friday shopping, and a weekend full of deals.

These community firefighters stood outside of Uno's on Friday afternoon from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., inviting families to tour two fire trucks, see “Sparky, the Dog,” and “Pluggy, the Fire Hydrant,” get gifts wrapped for a small donation, get their faces painted, tour the Safety Trailer, where firefighters taught children how to crawl through smoke, say hello to Santa Claus, and, of course, drop toys off for children in need.

“The freezing weather may be holding some people back,” Dover firefighter Jennifer Myers said. “But, we've had quite a few donations so far today.”

Uno's, located at 238 Indian Brook Road, is also donating 20 percent of all proceeds from its restaurant from 4 p.m. on Thursday to Saturday, Nov. 24, at midnight, to the toy drive.

“It's a good spot here,” Myers said. “We wanted to try to take advantage of the traffic that is going through here and just bring awareness to our three toy banks and to the way the times are the way they are and the economy, just let people know there is still a need out there for people to give back just a little bit.”

Dover has put together a toy bank for more than 35 years, helping more than 900 kids each year have gifts to open under the tree on Christmas morning. They decided to team up with Rochester and Somersworth for the first time this year, two other cities that have also done toy banks for years. Somersworth Firefighter Matt Moore said his city donates gifts to more than 650 kids and Rochester Fire Captain Paul LaClair said they donate gifts to 750 children.

“We're expecting about the same this year,” LaClair said. “It is about 300 families in total. We've been doing it in Rochester, like Dover and Somersworth, for years. It is just a way that the firefighters can give back to the communities.”

Myers said the fire departments work with schools to find out who needs warmer winter clothing and to receive wish lists so that children get to receive at least one item that they wanted this year.

“It's nice to know that the kids who may not have as much have something under the tree on Christmas, and doing this brings the communities of Somersworth, Dover and Rochester together,” Moore said.

Money raised this weekend at Uno's will be divided evenly between Rochester, Somersworth and Dover so each city can buy toys. The toy drive may have only been at Uno's on Friday afternoon, but donations are accepted all year round at the stations. Unwrapped toys dropped off through the end of the year will be donated into this year's drive and any gifts donated after December will be placed in next year's drive or will be given to children who lose their belongings in a fire.

“Every little bit helps,” Myers said.

Rochester's fire stations are located at 37 Wakefield St. and on the corner of Main Street and Route 125 in Gonic. Somersworth's station is at 195 Maple St. and Dover's fire station locations are at 9-11 Broadway, 25 Durham Road and 262 Sixth St.

“We do it to give back to those who are less fortunate. It's a small way that we can help out those that are in need,” Myers said. “Christmas is supposed to be about family and it is supposed to be about the kids. We try to bring back that aspect of it and it's a small way for us to give back and help the citizens of the Seacoast. If the families are able to focus on other aspects of their every day lives than worry about providing toys under the tree, than this is one way that we can do that.”

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.